Meta4 PeopleNet Software Review

Average rating: 3.5 (from 130 votes)

An Independent Software Review and Analysis

Payroll was the Meta4 starting-point back in 1991. The founders of this Madrid-based company were specialists in developing, maintaining and customizing payroll products, drawing on more than 20 years of experience to develop Meta4’s first payroll solution. Led by Emile Hamou (of the French Groupe Adonix), Meta4's payroll functionality remains highly robust, compares well to competitors’ offerings and reflects the expertise and development that was applied (and continues to be applied) to its creation. Over the years, naturally, Meta4’s product range has expanded and an equivalent degree of care and effort has gone into the development of the company’s PeopleNet HR suite (originally launched in 1999) into which the payroll engine was incorporated. Although these days, PeopleNet is at the heart of Meta4’s reputation on the software landscape, the company itself has not by any means forgotten its payroll roots.

In terms of that reputation, since 1999 PeopleNet has emerged as a sophisticated HCM software suite capable of being leveraged on the global stage. Indeed, the attractions of PeopleNet has led to Meta4 landing contracts of a size that would perhaps normally have gone to the ‘big 3’ vendors (Oracle, SAP and Infor). This level of success is in part due to the understanding that the company’s leadership has of the market and how and where their efforts will best fit. From the beginning, Meta4 took an international view, including focusing on countries that were being ignored by its larger competitors (today over 60% of the company’s revenues come from international sources). Thanks to this strategy, even though the Meta4 name has perhaps yet to break through to mainstream awareness, industry analyst firms such as Gartner have long since taken notice of PeopleNet: "Meta4 has very versatile solutions, which are also easy to use and integrate, and its technological platform requires a significantly lower investment than others which enables a short-term ROI".

In terms of global reach, Meta4 has offices across 11 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, France, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States), and in terms of clientele is expanding its reach into France, the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and the U.S. in order to grow its current 1300-strong client list. As with any software vendor, strategic partnerships are key to presenting an all-encompassing solution to potential buyers and Meta4’s partner list includes the following consultancies, technology firms, and global integrators:

Atos

Accenture

Deloitte

Fujitsu

Indra

Humantech

Matchmind

However, in the U.S. the Meta4 name is hardly at the top of the list of payroll and wider HCM vendors. A lack of brand awareness means that Meta4 – undeservedly so – has yet to cross over into the North American software mainstream market.